The news cycle now changes so quickly, it seems like every time you click refresh on your internet browser, the top stories have all changed … and a whole new batch of politicians, actors, and newscasters have been accused of being perverts.

That being said, California news typically gets pushed so far to the back pages, it ends up somewhere near the horoscopes and ads for snow tires.

But since I’ve been dabbling in that part of the paper and my horoscope (as an Aquarius) says, “the past can seem cozy and reassuring, especially when the unknown looms,” I’ve decided that I should spend some time highlighting the top five California political stories of the year.

The fifth most important story of 2017 is the conventional wisdom that California’s junior U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti are mulling 2020 presidential runs. Both politicians have reportedly met with advisors who have told them that they could be the next president of the United States.

In other news, singer Lance Bass still wants to be an astronaut. And North Hollywood wants to become “West Toluca Lake.”

The fourth most impactful story is the region’s exploding homeless population.

Think about these numbers for a second. More than one-quarter of the total homeless population nationwide lives in California, which amounts to about 114,000 people. In May, Los Angeles County revealed that its homeless population spiked 23 percent over the past year; and in Orange County the numbers jumped 8 percent since 2015.

This is a problem that is not going away any time soon and will continue to be a thorn in the side of public safety and public health.

The third biggest story is the dramatic negative impact that Propositions 47, 57 and Assembly Bill 109 have had on California’s crime rate.

According to the 2016 statewide crime data, 174,701 violent crimes were committed last year, an increase of 4.9 percent from the 166,588 violent crimes in 2015. The 2016 numbers are 15.4 percent higher than the violent crime tally in 2014.

Michele Hanisee, president of the Association of Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys told Fox News, “The most recent statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice show violent crime rates in some California cities has increased by over 50 percent … If you look at the national data, our violent crime rates are going up faster than the rest of the nation. So why?”

The first runner up is the complete and total acquiescence of legislative Republicans to the Democratic majority on tax increases and major legislation.

Whether it was raising the gas tax by 11 cents a gallon and increasing the vehicle license fee, or jacking up gas prices by 71 cents a gallon and dramatically expanding energy costs through “cap-and-trade” legislation, California Republicans were eager to provide the necessary votes for the two-thirds required majority.

Many of the Republicans who rolled over for these votes are termed out and may never have to answer to voters again. A notable exception is former Assembly Minority Leader Chad Mayes, who is eligible to run for reelection, and acted as a dutiful cog in the Democratic leadership food chain, whipping up votes for Speaker Anthony Rendon when he was called upon.

And finally, the top story of 2017 is the spate of sexual harassment scandals that has rocked the legislature. So far, two sitting members of the Assembly have been forced to resign, a member of the state Senate is being investigated and another senator has been asked by Senate Leader Kevin de León to take a leave of absence from his post.

Another member of the Assembly has been forced to resign for *writer clears throat* “health reasons.”

In all, 2017 was a wild year; but I’m confident 2018 will offer up even more doozies!

John Phillips is a CNN political commentator and can be heard weekdays at 3 p.m. on “The Drive Home with Jillian Barberie and John Phillips” on KABC/AM 790.

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